Metal furniture



March 13, 1934. J. P. KIESECKER METAL FURNITURE 3 Sheets-$heet l 2 3 9 1 l l e n U J d e l i F l a n i g 1 r O //Vl E/VTOR Jul-E5 F? K/E'SECKER A TTK March 13, 1934.

J. P. KIESECKER METAL FURNITURE OriginalFiled June 11. 19:52

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR s/ULES R K/ESE'CKER' BY M March 13, 1934.

J. P. KIESECKER Re. 19,112

METAL FURNITURE Original Filed June 11, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //VI/E'/V7'OR JULES I? K/EISECKEV? ATTX UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METAL FURNITURE Jules P. Kiesecker, New York, N. Y.

Original No. 1,934,195, dated November 7, 1933,. Serial No. 616,624, June 11, 1932., Application for reissue December 7, 1933, Serial No. 101,360

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-194) This invention relates to fireproof furniture forming a frame of four bent channels 1 each and more particularly to furniture of this type in the form of a flat arch having their flanges constructed with a metal frame with coverings extending upwardly and outwardly and arranged of fireproof material. so that the channels forming the sides of the 6 Commercial metal furniture of today is usually frame will telescope between the flanges form- 60 all metal which follows the shapes employed in ing the front and back of the frame and in the Wooden furniture without actually representing telescoped position secured to each other pref- Wocd and employs hair, down and other materials erably by spot-welding. It is preferable to encase in the upholstery which are inflammable in the the telescoping portions of the respective chan- 10 sense that such upholstery can produce suffocatnels forming the legs of the chair in a thin metal 65 mg smoke. envelope 2, which may be spot-welded thereto,

It is an object of this invention to construct to provideauniform finish. Asmall metal casting fireproof furniture particularly adaptable for use acting as a foot 3 is preferably attached to the on shipboard as in spaces enclosed by fireproof bottom of each leg, the dimensions of the bottom 16 partitions, such as state rooms, as well as in public of which is slightly greater than the envelopes 70 places of the vessel. It is also an object of this of the legs to extend therebeyond and act as a invention in constructing this improved fireproof protection to the finish or decoration of the enfurniture to combine metal structural forms with velopes. compressed fireproof materials disguising the The upper flat portions 4 of the channels form 20 coldness and obviating the tin pan sound so comthe frame between the legs to support the seat 75 mon to the ordinary types of metal furniture. It for the chair. It is preferable to provide a recis still a further object of this invention to protangular frame 5 of thin metal having its upper vide furniture of this type which may be covered edge turned back upon itself to hook over and with fabric or wood veneer or provided with a be supported by the outer flanges of the respeccombination of wood veneer surfaces with poL- tive flat channel portions 4 and depend a sufficient 80 ished metal, which is very popular at the present distance thereb'elow to cover the curved portions time, so that the outward appearance of the 6 of the respective channels and the upper ends furniture can be so constructed and decorated of the metallic leg envelopes 2. This thin metalas to correspond with any architectural or decoralie frame as shown is preferably secured in positive scheme and at the same time possessing the tion by spot-welding it to the flanges of the re- 85 quality of being practically a complete fireproof spective channels. article. The posts for the back of the chair are of the While the preferred forms of this invention are same construction as the legs, that is, formed of a illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawcontinuous channel '7 bent to the shape desired,

ings, yet it is to be understood that minor detail but in this case, it is preferable to have the flanges 90 changes may be made without departing from the extending inward as shown. The ends of this scope thereof. back channel are received within the hollow back Figure 1 is a view in perspective, with parts legs of the chair formed by the interlocking chanbroken away and partly in section, illustrating an nels 1 and are preferably spot-welded thereto. A

40 embodiment of this invention as applied to a horizontal strut, or brace, preferably in the form 5 chair. of a channel 8, with its flanges extending up- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating wardly and cut away at each end to allow the web the application of this invention to a chest of to be bent upwardly, is received between the indrawers. turned flanges of the channel forming the back Figure 3 is a view in vertical transverse central posts and is preferably spot-welded thereto. 10o section of Figure 3 with parts broken away. It is seen from the above description that the Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figentire frame of the chair is formed of light weight ure 3 taken on a plane at right angles thereto. rigid metal structural shapes. This invention In carrying out this invention, it is contemplated contemplates the formation of the back and seat to employ commercial metal structural forms for of the chair of molded compressed fireproof mate- 105 the main supporting members which are interrial of flexible character. In supporting and atlocking in character and spot-welded together. taching this material in place, it is contemplated In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 of the to employ a metal strip 9 readily bent to conform drawings, the stiffness and necessary strength to the shape of the chair back, or chair seat, to

of the chair illustrated therein is obtained by which strip a plurality of spaced apart spring clips are preferably spot-welded for the purpose of imparting the desired shape to the covering of the back or seat. The flexible fireproof covering 11 is then stretched over these clips and is preferably secured in place by an exterior metal band 12 placed about the edge thereof. In the formation of the chair back the exterior metal securing band 12 preferably holds the fabric stretched over the spring clips and the spring clip bearing strip 9 by spaced apart screws 13 passing through both and engaging the web of the back channels 7 and 8. The seat is preferably constructed in the same manner in which the exterior edges of the metal strip 9 and band 12 on each side of the fabric covering are secured between the portion of the chair frame 5 overlap ping the exterior flange of the frame channels 1 and the oppositely disposed flange, as shown. If desired, cross straps may be secured to the opposite portions of the depending chair frame for the purpose of mounting coil springs under the desired portion of the seat covering.

The exposed metal portions of the chair may be decorated in any desired manner, including the application of a wood veneer without departing from the fireproof qualities of the metal structure. The seat and back portions may be covered with leather or other decorative material before they are secured in position and in this connection, it is preferable to stretch a covering for the rear of the back over the channels before securing the back thereto.

It is contemplated to apply this invention, as well, to a chest of drawers commonly referred to in the furniture trade as highboys or lowboys according to the number of drawers or bureaus in accordance with the shape of the article. An embodiment of this application to a chest of drawers is illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. By reference to these drawings, it is seen that the article is formed in the same manner as the frame of the chair hereinbefore described, that is, each side includes a commercial channel 14 of light weight metal bent in the form of a flat arch with the side channels interlocking with the front and back channels and preferably spot-welded thereto. The interlocking channels form the four corners of the article and are preferably covered by a light weight metal envelope 15, in the same manner as the chair leg, and the bottom of each corner is provided with a metallic foot 16 secured thereto. The top or upper surface is preferably a sheet of thin metal 1'7 bent down along each side, as

shown, and secured to the flat portions of the channels in any desired manner and the upper surface is preferably covered with molded sheet rubber 18 in one piece.

The curved portions of the interlocking channels and the upper portion of the corner envelopes are concealed by a thin sheet metal frame 19 preferably spot-welded and depending from the flat portions 20 of the channels in the same manner as in the chair.

The side and back panels 21 and 22 are formed 4 in a single sheet of a commercial compressed fireproof material. The channels surrounding the back and each side panel is provided with a slight ofiset in its web to form a shoulder 23 to be engaged by the edge of the panel and are stiffened at intervals by the light metal angularly shaped drawer runners 24, hereinafter described, which are preferably spot-welded to the channels, the lowermost of said runners 25 is provided at its lower edge with an outstanding flange 26 to engage the lower edge of each side and back panel to insure its engagement with the web of the upper flat portion of the channel, whilethe said runners insure the engagement of the panels with the shoulders 23 of the channels.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drawer runners are constructed of strips of light metal bent to provide right angular portions lying in horizontal and vertical planes. The horizontal portions 27 of the strips forming the back and side are each provided with an offset 28, the upper part of which acts as a spacer, while the lower portion acts as a runner over which the drawer body travels. It is preferable to provide each of the strips forming the runners 24 and 25 with a flange at each end which may be spot-welded or otherwise secured to the contiguous channel and position horizontal portions of the back and side strips to engage and stiffen the back and side pannels. The front strip 29 of the runner is secured to the contiguous channels with its horizontal portion in line with the offset of the side and back strips and the lower edge of the front strip is preferably bent back upon itself to form a closure for the front of the drawer. As heretofore said, the lowermost edge of the side and back strips of the lowermost runner 25 are outwardly flanged for the purpose described.

The drawers 30 are preferably formed from a single sheet of metal with the sides thereof bent upwardly and welded at the corners. The metal of the front 31 of the drawer is preferably offset in the manner shown to receive a superimposed front 32 of a commercial compressed fireproof material which may be recessed around the edges, so that a portion of the material will extend beyond each side of the drawer, as shown and these fronts are preferably secured by knobs 33 or handles having screw-threaded projections adapted to pass through the front, a spacer block 34 interposed between the front and the metal of the drawer as well as said front and be held in place by a nut upon the interior of the drawer, as customary in Wooden drawers. It is also preferable to form the metal at the top of the drawer sides and back with the round surface 35 by bending said metal outwardly therefrom in the manner shown.

The metal envelopes 15 of the corners do not entirely enclose the interlocking channels as in the chair, but terminate on the sides adjacent each other in line with the shoulder of the channels and engage the outer surfaces of the side and back fireproofing panels. The front sides of the envelopes about the front corners may be 135 terminated in line with the web of the front channels and the front strips 29 of the runners secured to the channels in the same plane as the outer surface of the envelopes. I The depending frame about the upper flat portions of the channels about the sides and back is flanged about its lower edge to engage the outer surface of the fireproofing back and side panels while the lower portion across the front is bent back upon itself, as shown in Figure 2. A chest of drawers 14,3 constructed in the manner above described exposes only the metal enveloping the corners and the front strips forming the drawer runners. A chest of drawers constructed in this manner can be finished in enamel inside and outside, or the outside with a wooden veneer and in either case the suggestion of its being metal is entirely removed.

What I claim is:

1. An article of furniture including a plurality 35G the curved portions thereof,

said fiat portions.

of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, and a continuous metallic skirt supported on the flat portions of said arches depending below the curved portions thereof.

2. An article of furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, a continuous metallic skirt supported on the fiat portions of said arches depending below the curved portions thereof, and metallic envelopes surrounding the interlocking portions of the legs.

3. An article of furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, a continuous metallic skirt supported on the fiat portions of said arches depending below metallic envelopes interlocking portions of the legs, frame supporting a continuous or cover supported upon surrounding the and a metallic fireproof material seat furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of 4. An article of the article, a continuous metallic skirt supported on the flat portions of said arches depending below the curved portions thereof, metallic envel opes surrounding the interlocking portions of the legs, a metallic frame supporting a continuous fireproof material seat or cover supported upon said flat portions and said frame positioned behind and concealed by the upper portion of said depending metallic skirt.

5. An article of furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, and a similar bent structural metal shape having its depending angular legs interlocked with the rear interlocked legs of the article and the portions thereabove forming the back of the article.

6. An article of furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of fiat arches with angular'legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, a similar bent structural metal shape having its depending angular legs interlocked with the rear interlocked legs of the article and the portions thereabove forming the back of the article, and a metallic brace secured to the opposite legs of the back above the interlocking of the legs.

'7. An article of furniture including a plurality of structural metal shapes bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom and having the said legs adjacent each other interlocked to form the respective legs of the article, a continuous metallic skirt supported on the fiat portions of said arches depending below the curved portions thereof, metallic envelopes surrounding the interlocking portions of the legs, a metallic frame supporting a continuous fireproof material seat or cover supported upon said flat portions forming the seat, a similar bent structural metal shape having depending angular legs interlocked with the rear interlocked legs of the article with a metal brace secured to the opposite legs above the interlocking legs forming the back of the article, and a metallic frame supporting a continuous fireproof material cover secured about the said back portion.

8. A fireproof chair including a plurality of metal channels bent in the form of fiat arches with angular legs depending therefrom, said channels having their parallel flanges extending outwardly, said leg portions interlocked to form the chair legs, metal feet secured to the bottom of each leg, metal envelopes surrounding each leg below the curved portions of the channels, a

continuous metal skirt having its top bent back upon itself and hooked over the outer flange of the fiat portions and extending below the curved portions, an additional channel bent upon itself with its parallel flanges extending inwardly and its ends interlocked with the rear legs to form the back of the chair.

Q. A fireproof chair including a plurality of metal channels bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom, said channels having their parallel flanges extending outwardly, said leg portions interlocked to form the chair legs, metal feet secured to the bottom of each leg, metal envelopes surrounding each leg below the curved portions of the channels, a continuous metal skirt having its top bent back upon itself and hooked over the outer flange of the flat portions and extending below the curved portions, an additional channel bent upon itself with its parallel flanges extending inwardly and its ends interlocked with the rear legs to form the back of the chair, and a cross brace channel with upstanding parallel flanges secured to the back channel above the skirt.

10. A fireproof chair including a plurality of metal channels bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom, said channels having their parallel flanges extending outwardly, said leg portions interlocked to form the chair legs, metal feet secured to the bottom of each leg, metal envelopes surrounding each leg below the curved portions of the channels, a continuous metal skirt having its top bent back upon itself and hooked over the outer flange of the flat portions and extending below the curved portions, an additional channel bent upon itself with its parallel flanges extending inwardly and its ends interlocked with the rear legsto form the back of the chair, a cross brace channel with upstanding parallel flanges secured to the back channel above the skirt, a continuous fireproof seat extending between the opposite sides of the metallic skirt secured to the flat portions of the leg channels and a continuous fireproof back extending between the back channel and cross brace.

11. A fireproof chair including a plurality of metal channels bent in the form of flat arches with angular legs depending therefrom, said channels having their parallel flanges extending outwardly, said leg portions interlocked to form the chair legs, metal feet secured to the bottom c portions, an additional channel bent upon itself with its parallel flanges extending inwardly and its ends interlocked with the rear legs to form the back of the chair, a cross brace channel with the upstanding parallel flanges secured to the back channel above the skirt, a rectangular frame received within the upstanding flanges of the fiat channel portions, a plurality of spaced apart spring clips secured thereon and a continuous fireproof fabric stretched thereover to form a seat with the edges extending continuously in contact with the top of said metal skirt, and a metal frame having spaced apart spring clips with a continuous fireproof fabric stretched thereover and secured to the top and sides of the back channel and lower side of the cross brace to form a back rest.

JULES P. KIESECKER. 

